Brake cleaner?

[savasyn]

What do you guys think of using brake cleaner on non-bore parts like bolts and receivers? It shouldn't leave any residue and should break up the powder gunk pretty well.
Any reason not to use it?

[M1A Rifleman]

What do you guys think of using brake cleaner on non-bore parts like bolts and receivers? It shouldn't leave any residue and should break up the powder gunk pretty well.
Any reason not to use it?

Two possible problems with this. One, it may eat the finish. Two, it would remove all oil from these parts improving the chnace of rust. My suggestion is to use a std gun cleaner like Hoppes.

[762cavalier]

I use brake cleaner to de-cosmo old rifles. works great. As M1A stated though, be careful as it will remove stock finishes and can damage plastic parts. Also after using it a re-oiling is necessary to prevent rust as the cleaner removes all oils.

[savasyn]

Got it. I'm not worried about it removing oils as all those would be replaced at the end of the cleaning. I'll have to test if on some spare parts and see how it affects the finish.

[savasyn]

I use brake cleaner to de-cosmo old rifles. works great. As M1A stated though, be careful as it will remove stock finishes and can damage plastic parts. Also after using it a re-oiling is necessary to prevent rust as the cleaner removes all oils.

Remove "stock finishes" as in oil on the wood stock or the factory finish on metal parts like blueing or parkerizing?


Good tip for de-cosmoing though. I have an M44 coming next week and will need to do that to it.

[ocabj]

Non-chlorinated brake cleaner is used by many for cleaning bores.

I use brake cleaner to clean my bore brushes after use.

[slick_711]

Brake cleaner, Primis in particular, is excellent for cleaning ARs. I don't personally use it on the bore, but I use it on everything else (Bolt, BCG, chamber, upper & lower internals). It poses no damage to the rifle itself (metal/plastic components at lease, I've never used it on finished wood). It's basically the same thing as Birchwood Casey's "Gun Scrubber" but in a cheaper package because it isn't marketed toward guns. Just be sure to wipe down/dry out the parts and re-oil before reassembly and use.

ETA: It also works very well for the de-cosmoline process, but then even brake cleaner gets expensive as the rifle will typically require multiple cans. Get a shallow long plastic container and put in a few inches of kerosene and the metal parts of the rifle soak in that, then give it a quick wipe down and cleaning with a decent solvent (or brake cleaner ) and you will save effort & money. As to stocks, typically a little heat and repeated wipedowns will take care of the cosmoline there.

[toolman9000]

Non-chlorinated brake cleaner

+1

Love this stuff much cheaper than action blaster and does the same thing.

[deez]

Another +1 here.

I've been using non-chlorinated brake cleaner for 10 yrs now to clean out the actions in my firearms, as well as cleaning my bore brushes after usage.

As mentioned before, be careful around wood and plastics when using. I always remove any such grips or stocks beforehand.

[FortCourageArmory]

+1

Love this stuff much cheaper than action blaster and does the same thing.

+1 to that. Non-chlorinated brake cleaner is chemically almost identical to Gun Scrubber. And since Gun Scrubber is $10 a can and brake cleaner is $2 a can, which makes more sense to use?

[bigthaiboy]

I find carb cleaner also good for degreasing old milsurp rifles too. Brake cleaner & carb cleaner will melt certain plastics and completely ruin the finish.

[railroader]

I use brake cleaner on most of my guns. It's really good at getting the gunk out of nooks and crannies. DO NOT USE BRAKE CLEANER ON RUGER POLYMER HANDGUNS. I have a ruger p97 and brake cleaner will turn the polymer frame a shade of white. Ask me how I know . Mark

[Rule .308]

Being an avid shooter as well as a mechanic I am intimately familiar with brake cleaner. The active ingredient is acetone which is something that you really do not want on your skin or your plastic parts. It will do a darn good job of degreasing but it will also cool metal parts to the point of making moisture condense on them. So just be careful, wipe all of your stuff down and lubricate when done and don't use it on anything plastic or questionable.

[tankerman]

READ the warning label on Brake Cleaner.

Make sure you use in well ventilated area if you plan to have children.

[xj4play]

You may want to head to a r/c hobby store and pick up some electric motor cleaner. It is safe for plastics. It will remove all oil too. You can find it for 3-4 bucks and you dont have to worry about it eating up the plastic.